Sep. 21—Peak to Peak’s boys golf team is headed back to the state tournament after a dominant performance at regionals this week.
Finishing second at Class 3A Region 2 a year ago, the Pumas upgraded this time around, sweeping the top three spots on the individual leaderboard to beat runner-up SkyView Academy by 23 strokes on Tuesday.
It’s a week-and-half wait to see if they’re able to carry over that kind of play into the 3A tournament, where they finished sixth last fall.
“I told them this morning, today’s goal was to qualify. Good golf takes care of itself,” Peak to Peak coach Michael Ventimiglia said on Tuesday. “Same message for state. Good golf takes care of itself. Let’s not focus on outcomes. Control what you can in the process.”
Holy Family is also going back to the 3A tournament after the Tigers had three top-10 finishes to beat Eaton by a single stroke in their regional.
Erie, meanwhile, should be among the headliners at the 4A tournament after it won a regional team title behind ace Sean Cary’s win.
State tournaments are Oct. 2-3. Class 5A is at Collindale Golf Course (Fort Collins), 4A, The Bridges (Montrose) and 3A, RainDance National Golf Course (Windsor).
Here is a rundown of what locals did at this week’s regionals, starting on Tuesday.
3A Region 2
Om Mathur won the individual title, shooting 1-under-par 70 for Peak to Peak at CommonGround Golf Course Tuesday. Teammates George Grady and Jack Brayman tied for second (72) and Jack Winter was 26th.
Dawson’s Jimmy Leuchten (77) and Charlie Heathwood (82) also qualified.
3A Region 3
Drake Krommenhoek and Rudiger Heitz tied for fourth at 5-over 77 at Boomerang Golf Links Tuesday and the Tigers edged Eaton by a shot (16-over 232) for the team title.
Heitz returns to the state tournament for a fourth straight year. He was fourth at the 3A tourney last season. The Tigers were ninth.
4A Region 1
Erie’s Sean Cary won the individual title, shooting 2-under-par 70 at Walking Stick Golf Course Wednesday.
The Tigers won the team title by seven strokes over Ponderosa, carding 7-over 223. Hayden Jackson finished third (72), Owen Dubois 11th (81) and Cole Reseigh 14th (84).
5A Central
Legacy qualified a team of three at University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch Wednesday.
Luke Tourault shot 4-over 76, finishing ninth. It will be his second straight trip to the state tourney.
Jensen Riederer carded 80, Jason Kim 81.
4A Region 3
Mead’s Booth Hayes was the first freshman in the young program’s history to reach state last year.
Now, he’s returning with more momentum as a sophomore.
Hayes finished third at Boomerang Golf Links Thursday, shooting 1-under 71.
Broomfield’s Mason Hill was fourth (72), Niwot’s Emmett Shell sixth (74), and Longmont’s Jayson Mitts, Centaurus’ Matthew Vaver and Silver Creek’s Preston Waller were eighth (76).
Niwot’s Drew Stapp (77), Silver Creek’s Nick Horvath (77), Skyline’s Zack LaCrosse (78), Broomfield’s Sam Horne (79) and Frederick’s Layne Smotzer (79) also qualified.
Boys golf: Mead’s Hayes leads local state qualifiers at 4A Region 3
5A Western
Fairview’s Sawyer Sales put his struggles during the season behind him, finishing fifth (2-over 72) at Flatirons Golf Course Thursday to qualify for a third straight state tournament.
Sales, who finished 35th in the FRL season-long standings, will be joined by league champ and teammate Miles Kuhl, who shot 76 at regionals.
Boulder will send a team of three as Doug Holleman (73), Sam Skubic (74) and Boden Wrenn (75) all qualified. Last year, the Panthers finished 11th in 5A.
5A Southern
Monarch’s recent struggles at regionals continued Thursday at Indian Tree Golf Course as only junior Cameron Nicholson qualified for state. Talan Gover is the first-alternate.
“Something about regionals trips us up,” Monarch coach Geoff Findley said. “Really happy for Cam, but heartbroken for our seniors.”
The Coyotes haven’t qualified a team to state since 2020 despite having strong performances throughout the regular season.
Last year, they missed the team cut despite winning the Front Range League behind league champ Gover and eventual-state champ Caleb Michaels. Then this year, the FRL runner-up looked all sorts of good as it shot under par or close-to at a handful of tournaments.
“Great year with a great bunch,” Findley added. “Setbacks breed success.”